Slipper having good draining functions and thousands of flexible variable length bristles spaced in a special pattern providing comfortable enhanced support and special massaging effect on the foot sole

ABSTRACT

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a slipper having good draining functions so that perspiration, water, sand, and dirt will not accumulate in the slipper and to provide comfortable enhanced support with a special massaging effect on the foot sole of the user with respect to the user&#39;s motion and wear.  
     In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing objective of the present invention is attained by a slipper consisting of an outsole, an upper strap fastened through the outsole to receive the user&#39;s foot, and an insole made with thousands of flexible variable length bristles spaced in a special pattern for comfort and drainage for air, water, and sand.  
     The foregoing objective, features, functions, and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to footwear, and moreparticularly to a slipper that has good draining functions and thousandsof flexible variable length bristles spaced in a special patternproviding comfortable enhanced support and special massaging effect onthe user's foot sole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There are two main types of soles for conventional slippers. Inthe first type, a covering is provided on the top face of the sole ofthe slipper. The covering may be made of leather or cloth, and theuser's foot steps on the covering. The cover's purpose is to providesoftness and comfort during use. The common problem for this type ofconventional slipper is that if the slipper is immersed in water duringthe use, the covering will absorb water and accumulate. The water doesnot drain and does not dry quickly thus allowing bacteria to breed andnot hygienic, thus can cause various skin disorders of the foot. Thecovering could also absorb the user's perspiration and develop odors. Inthe second type, there is no cover on the sole of the slipper, and theuser's sole steps on the top surface of the outsole. There is nocushioning barrier between the user's sole and the outsole and does notprovide comfortable enhanced support to the user's foot. Some of thistype may have some protrusions on the surface to provide some massagingeffect, but they are rigid and not flexible, thus painful, anduncomfortable to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more clearly understood from the following detaileddescription and accompanying drawings, in which,

[0004]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0005]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0006]FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of the preferred embodimentof the present invention;

[0007]FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the present invention in use;

[0008]FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken of broken line box of FIG. 3 ofspecial pattern of flexible variable length bristles with specialspacing arrangements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0009] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, a preferred embodiment of aslipper having good draining function and thousands of flexible variablelength bristles spaced in a special pattern providing comfortableenhanced-support and special massaging effect on the user's feetaccording to the present invention consists of an outsole 10, an insole20, and an upper thong 30.

[0010] The outsole 10 is made from flexible materials. A raised wall 11extends upwardly from a top face of the outsole 10 along its periphery.The top face of the outsole 10 within the raised wall 11 forms a topsurface 12 which is depressed below periphery edge raised wall 11.

[0011] The insole 20 is a structure formed by thousands of flexibleplastic bristles 21 of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) of varying lengths andarranged in a special pattern 22 as shown in FIG. 4. The flexiblefilaments 21 flex and bend to the weight of the user, enabling all thecurves of the foot sole to be in contact with the bristles 21 as shownin FIG. 4. Each bristle 21 presses and brush the surface of the user'sfoot sole as he/she walks, thus providing a special massaging effect tothe foot sole. The spaces between the bristles 21 allow the free flow ofair, water, and moisture to keep the user's feet dry and help reducefoot perspiration and odor. Any dirt, sand, or particles between thebristles 21 can be brushed or flushed away with water. The insole 20 isattached to the upper side top surface 12 of the outsole 10. The insole20 is surrounded by the raised periphery wall 11 of the outsole 10.

[0012] The upper may be in any form and is not restricted to the onesshown in the accompanying drawings. The upper thong 30 as in FIG. 1 isof a Y-shaped construction and is composed on three retaining portions31, which are securely retained in three retaining holes of 13 of theoutsole 10. The upper 30 may, as shown in the drawings, have connectingportions that extend through the insole 20.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, an upper 40 of the second preferredembodiment of a slipper having good, draining function and thousands offlexible variable length bristles spaced in a special pattern providingcomfortable enhanced support and special massaging effect on the user'sfeet according to the present invention consists of an outsole 10, aninsole 20, and an upper strap 40. The upper strap 40 is of an arch-likeconstruction and is secured at both ends is to the outsole so as to forman arching receiving space adapted to receive the foot of the user. Ifthe upper has a form other than the ones as shown (such as that commonlyseen in slippers on the market), the upper may be directly secured tothe periphery of the outsole 10 and may be secured through the; insole20.

[0014] The present invention has the following advantages in actual use:

[0015] 1. The spacing of the flexible bristles of the insole providesgood ventilation and draining effects, allowing free flowing of waterand air. When the user wears the pair of slippers in wet environmentssuch as the shower or poolside or wades across water, according to thepresent invention, the water in the insole 20 will flow around-thebristles 21 and out over the periphery wall 11 and will not accumulatebetween the user's sole and the outsole 10, keeping the user's feetrelatively dry.

[0016] 2. As the insole 20 allows good air ventilation, water moisturewill evaporate quickly. As the present invention has good drainingeffects, water and the user's perspiration will not accumulate.Furthermore, the special pattern of the varying length bristles 11 andspacing arrangement will facilitate the washing away of any dirt, orsand and would not be trapped as in conventional insoles with interwovenfilaments.

[0017] 3. As the thousands of flexible bristles 11 are arranged in aspecial pattern of varying lengths and specific spacing, the insole 20adjusts to the contours of the user's foot providing comfort andprolonged painless wearing unlike conventional massaging foot bedscurrently in the marketplace.

[0018] 4. As the thousands of flexible bristles 11 are arranged in aspecial pattern of varying lengths and specific spacing, the bristlesprovide a special massaging effect to the foot sole.

[0019] 5. As the insole 20 can provide suitable friction to the user'sfoot to lessen skidding in accelerated movement in the slippers.

[0020] Although the present invention has been illustrated and describedwith reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it should beunderstood that it is in no way limited to the details of suchembodiment but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A slipper having good draining functions andthousands of flexible variable length bristles spaced in a specialpattern providing comfortable enhanced support and special massagingeffect on the foot sole and comprising: an outsole; a strap of aY-shaped construction securely retained to the outsole and through theinsole for securing a foot; an insole attached to the upper surface ofthe said outsole and made with thousands of flexible plastic bristles ofpolyvinyl chloride (PVC) of varying lengths and arranged in a specialpattern on the upper surface of the said insole. The flexible filamentsflex and bend to the weight of the user, enabling all the curves of thefoot sole to be in contact with the bristles. Each bristle presses andbrush the surface of the user's foot sole as he/she walks, thusproviding a special massaging effect to stimulate the foot sole. Thespace between the bristles allow the free flow of air, water, andmoisture to keep the user's feet dry and reduce foot perspiration. Anydirt, sand, or particles between the bristles can be brushed or flushedaway with water.
 2. A slipper having good draining functions andthousands of flexible variable length bristles spaced in a specialpattern providing comfortable enhanced support and special massagingeffect on the foot sole and comprising: an outsole; a strap of anarch-like construction securely retained to the outsole and for securinga foot; an insole attached to the upper surface of the said outsole andmade with thousands of flexible plastic bristles of polyvinyl chloride(PVC) of varying lengths and arranged in a special pattern on the uppersurface of the said insole. The flexible filaments flex and bend to theweight of the user, enabling all the curves of the foot sole to be incontact with the bristles. Each bristle presses and brush the surface ofthe user's foot sole as he/she walks, thus providing a special massagingeffect to the foot sole. The spaces between the bristles allow the freeflow of air, water, and moisture to keep the user's feet dry and reducefoot perspiration. Any dirt, sand, or particles between the bristles canbe brushed or flushed away with water.